It’s vital that seniors have an affordable, reliable way to keep in touch with family and friends. Senior cell phone plans provide that.
Senior cell phone plans can be contract-based or prepaid with many offering significant discounts on data, text and traditional phone calls.
Our health and wellness experts have determined that the following are the most important benefits of senior cell phone plans.
12 Benefits Of Senior Cell Phone Plans
If you are thinking of signing up for a senior cell phone plan but are not sure if it’s worth it, consider the following benefits of such a plan.
1: Senior cell phone plans allow for extensive coverage at low prices.
A lot of seniors travel regularly. If you’re one of them, you don’t want your calling planning slapping you with huge roaming fees every time you fly out of their coverage area. The big carriers have their own nationwide network of cell towers. So, if you’re intent on traveling, you might want to look into a plan from one of those companies. If you’re more of a homebody, then you have more flexibility in choosing between a national and local a carrier.
2: Senior cell phone plans help seniors stay in touch.
Older folks tend to become increasingly isolated as time goes by. Anything that can help arrest or even reverse that trend is a good thing. And a good senior cell phone plan can do just that. The person will have the ability to call and text whomever they choose. They’ll be able to take and quickly share photos and even play internet games (1) that help them stay mentally active (2). Some sites allow players to play against one another, which adds a social element they wouldn’t get sitting alone in their room.
3: Senior cell phone plans can be customized.
Not all senior cell phone plans are set in stone. Some provide a high degree of flexibility when it comes to what you can keep and what you can discard. Sure, some plans from the big providers give you unlimited everything, and there’s a lot to be said for that. But you’re also going to pay for that unlimited service. Before deciding on a plan, you should carefully consider your needs and wants. Then, if necessary, find a plan you can customize to meet those needs.
4: Senior cell phone plans allow seniors to shop from home.
That’s important because a lot of older folks suffer from arthritis (3) or have other mobility issues. A good cell phone plan will enable these folks to order groceries, shop for clothes, shop for vitamins, and whatever else their heart desires, all from the comfort of their own homes. Another reason it’s important for seniors to have access to online shopping is that the internet has decimated traditional brick and mortar retail in many areas. As such, even if an older individual wanted to go to the mall, the mall may not be there any more (4).
5: Senior cell phone plans let you connect with the grand kids.
The gap between parents and their kids is big enough. But the gap between grandparents and their grandchildren can be cavernous. Kids today are borderline obsessed with their digital devices. To the point that they often neglect family relationships. A good senior cell phone plan can help grandparents bridge the divide between themselves and their progeny. They can share photos, keep in touch via social media and, of course, engage in that most old-fashioned of things: a phone conversation.
6: Senior cell phone plans allow you to keep your current phone.
That is, assuming you have a current phone, of course. If you do, and you want to transition from your overpriced plan to one more suited to your needs and budget, there is a good chance you’ll be able to retain your phone. This is not guaranteed mind you, especially if you received a locked phone (5) from a carrier as part of a calling plan. But, in many cases, carrying your existing phone over to the new plan is both allowed and easy.
7: Senior cell phone plans let you maintain old friendships.
The older we get, the more difficult it becomes to maintain personal relationships. Sometimes that’s because a person has passed away. Often times, however, it’s just a matter of two people drifting apart. A senior cell phone plan can help you reconnect with old friends and make them an active part of your life once again.
8: Senior cell phone plans enable you to keep doctor appointments.
Another result of aging is that short term memory tends to suffer. As a result, seniors often forget their medical appointments. An affordable senior cell phone plan can help ensure a person makes their important appointments. The joy of the cell phone is that even if they forgot and are out and about, the doctor’s office can reach them before they miss the appointment and have to reschedule.
9: Senior cell phone plans often have no credit check or contract.
This can be a major plus because it allows you to migrate to a new provider at any time with no penalty. You won’t have to go through a credit check either. And that’s a positive because, in many cases, simply having someone run a credit check on you can negatively affect your overall credit score (6).
10: Senior cell phone plans enhance personal safety.
It is a sad fact of life that senior citizens are increasingly becoming the victims of violent crime (7). In many cases, these victims are not able to alert police to a developing threat because they are alone and do not have a cell phone. While we like to talk about all the fun reasons for having a cell phone, personal protection may be the most important reason of all.
11: Senior cell phone plans expand entertainment possibilities.
Whether you’re 8 or 80, life is not a non-stop fun fest. There are times when it’s downright boring. Seniors often experience a heightened sense of boredom when alone, but a good senior calling plan can combat that. A senior cell phone plan with unlimited data enables the person to watch whatever videos they want, stream movies and TV shows, read e-books, watch sporting events, and more. And not only that, they can do all this whether they are at the beach, at the park, or in their bed.
12: Senior cell phone plans can enable you to upgrade your phone for almost nothing.
That’s because, unbeknownst to many, cellular carriers actually make their money off their services. That’s why they’re able to give away a cell phone if you sign up for their service. They buy so many phones they get a very attractive per-unit price, which they often recoup in the first month of the plan. So, if you have an older cellphone, you may be able to upgrade to a significantly better, brand new phone essentially for free by signing up for a certain carrier’s calling plan.
Conclusion
Senior cell phone plans enable seniors to stay in touch with their family and friends, shop online, make dinner reservations and generally enhance their quality of life, all at reduced costs. Most plans can be customized to suit the needs of the individual and work with the person’s current phone. In most cases no credit check is required.